Engine starting apparatus



Oct. 20, 1931. w. H. TEETER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed June 14,192s :5 sheets-,sheet 1 Oct. zo, 1931. w H TEE-TER 1,828,709

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20,1931. w. H. TEETER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed June 1,-4, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Ywmanually operable means Patented Oct, 20, 193i` nwinroiai) H. TEETER, on'iinYToN, joiiio', ss'ifivonifio 'perico-REMYeoioRATioN, 0F

DAYTON, ori-ro, AcoitroiiiTioirorJunin/awaits' i Y PENGTNE sTAitT'iNGArreIATUs Applieatanmea nine 14, 192s: vserenita. assied. i

This invention relates kto apparatus for starting. aninternalcombustio'n englllend P f Y f ,A further object of the inventionis t'o comparticularlyto thetype of apparatus which comprises anelectric motor vwhich operates a rotatable drivingv member, such as apinion,

which is moved by manual operation intor op-A erative connection with apart of the enginev to be started, vsuch as the engine flywheel gear. lY Y l .V lOne lof the objects of.theinvention'x is to place the drivingmember substantiallyrin complete driving connection'with the engine partbefore operating the starting motor. Accordingly, the present inventionprovides driving member or pinion along a rotatable operating device,such as a shaft, with which` the driving member or pinionis operatively`connected and forA rotating the driving mem- .20 ber or pinion while itis pressed against the engine part or flywheel gear in case obstructionis encountered before thedrivingmemvber and engine part are operativelyconnected. The driving member is normally spacedfrom the engine part,and, whilethe manualmeans is moving the driving member-toward the engine part, there is relativelylittle tendency to rotate the drivingmember. :If obstruction such as gear tooth abutment is encountered v,before the driving-memberand engine part are operatively connected,continuing the manual effort to engage ythe driving -member with theengine part will materially increase the tendency of the manuallyoperable means to rotate' the driving member while it is pressed againstthe engineypart. vThis-increase tendency to rotate kthe driving-memberis proportional to the force `applied to the manually operable means`for'"conneeting"the driving member and engine part'.v1 A' i The presentinventiov l plying yielding pressure to maintain the driving memberagainst the engine part whilel it is being rotated so that in caserotationof the driving member is undii-lyresisted by reason of thecoaction ofroughened engaging surfaces of the driving member and enginepart, the driving member may recede from 5u the engine part slightly in'orderftopermit vheretofore with an enginestarter drive hav-V Furtherobjects and advantages oflthe pres-l entinvention will lbe apparentvfromthe foll for moving the VVmanually operable startery control means .has,been released.

controlled switch contained within a art. f

bine the features which have been described a fnig means `forautomatically disconnecting lie drivingL member, vfrom the engine part fwhen the engine becomesself operative.

lowingrdescription, Y eference being had to the accompanying drawings,wherein a preferred form of'emb'odiment of the present inventionkisclearly'shown.` .u

Inthe drawings: I

.. Fig. f1 isxa fragmentary' sid-e elevation l partly Vin longitudinalsection showingl en-k gine starting apparatus .embodyingthe presentinvention.

yFigsQ and 3 are sectional views ytaken rie-.17,9

spectively on 'the linesQ--Q and 3-3 of Fig. l.

y Fig. ,4 isa vv iew similar to Fig.l showing thedriving. member orpinion abutting the engin-e part of fiywheel gear.,

' Figg isay View vsimilar, to Fig. t showing the `condition of theapparatuswhen the pin? ion hasfbeen turned tomesh with the flywheelgearl but just before meshing has taken place.`

Fig. is a view simi ar to Fig.v l showing the condition of the apparatuswhile crankfing the engine. p,

Fig.;7 ,is a view similar tok Fig.4 showing the condition of theapparatus; after the enf i gine lbecomes self-operative but beforev ythe4'Reterring to Figs. l, 2, and, 20. designates the Held frameiof an,electric vmotor which is switch :housinf: 21 r`'n d operated by aplunger 90 shaft-into engagement with an engine part or flywheel gear27.y The 'shaft 24: is supported by end bearings one ofiwhich is shownatV carried'by-a gear housingV 29 connected with the 4field'jfra:ine 20.End thrust ofthe ypinion f 100 'l Y" Ve;"drivlingi` member to. vpast theengine i Y 26 while driving the gear 27 is transmitted to the shaftthrough a wire split-ring proof the engine frame 36 which encloses theflywheel gear 27 The part of the housing 29 which is exterior of theengine frame is pro-4 vided with a side opening 37 through which certainparts of the starting apparatus may be passed when the apparatus isassembled.

Y The opening 37 is closed by a cover 38 which Vgear 27.

is lattached by screws 39 to planefbosses 40 and 41 provided by thehousing 29, and which supports one endy of a stud 42 having its otherend 43 supported bythe housing 29 as shown in Fig. 2. The stud 42supports an operating lever 44 having a hub 45 journalled upon the stud.The upper arm of the lever 44 is located so as to actuate the switchplunger and is attached to apedal rod 46 which passes through a cupmember 47 extending through an openinor 48 in the floorboard 49 of theautomobile. spring 50 located between the bottom of the cup member 47and the head 5l of the pedal rod 46 serves normally to maintain thelever 44 in the position shown in Fig. l.

The shaft 24 supports an engagement-effecting member 60 which slidesaxially along the shaft in order to move the pinion 26 into engagementwith the gear 27, and which is manually rotatable for the purposeV ofrotat ing the pinion 26 into meshing rel-ation with respect to theengine gear 27. Rotary motion is transmitted `from the member 60 to thepinion 26 by clutch teeth 61 provided by member 6() and engageable withclutch teeth 62 provided by a disk 63 attached to the pinion 2,6. Inorder that downward movement of the pedal 51 may cause the member 60 tomove axially and to rotate when necessary to effect registration of thepinion with the gear, the lever 44 Vils-connected with the member 60 ina manner such that while Vthe pinion 26 'is Ybeing moved by the member60 into contact with the gear 27 there is relatively little tendency torotate the member 60, but the tendency to rotate the member 60will'increas'e with increasing pressure upon the pedal 51 while thepinion 26 is pressed against the This effect isaccomplished byconnecting the lever 44 to the member 60 by a collapsible linkcomprising telescopically engageable tubular like members 64 'and 65which are normally maintained' in extended relation by a spring 66contained within these portions. A screw pin 67 attached to the member64 and passing into a slot 68 in the member limits the extent to whichthe members 64 and 65 can be separated. The

f meshing relation with respect to the link member 64 carries a stud 69received by a hole in the lower end of the lever 44. The link member 65is connected with the engagement-effecting member 60 by a stud 70 whichis shaped so as to permit rotation of the member 60 while the link movesbodily along the shaft 24, and so as to retain the link member 65 incooperative relation with the mem ber 60, asshown in Fig. 2.

Normally the members 64 and 65 of the collapsible link are extended andthe link is normally located at a relatively small angle relative to theanis 24. Therefore, when the pedall is pressed to start the engine, thelever 44 and the collapsible link transmit movtion from the pedal insuch a manner that the tendencyto rotate the 'member 60 is relativelysmall in comparison with the tendency to move it axially along the shaft24. The pressure upon the pedal 5l lirst causes the link to move fromthe position'shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 4 in order to Icausea finger member 7l provided by the link member 65 to engage the disk 63and to move the pinion 26 into Vcontact with the gear 27. lf gear toothabutment occurs, continued pressure upon the pedal 5l will cause thelink to collapse and shorten the ydistance between the aXes of the studs69 and 7 O as will be apparent from Figs. 4 and l5. While the link isthus shortening and changing its angular relation to the shaft 24 thelinger 7l will be so moved as to permit engagement of the clutch teeth6l and 62 so as to transmit rotary motion from the member 60 to thepinion 26. The shortening of the link changes theangular relationbetween the axis of the member 60 and a center line joining the ailes ofthe studs 69 and 70. Therefore, as the lever 44 is moved from theposition shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5' the component of theforce transmitted bythe link to the member 60 which 'will berotatedcluringinovement of the lever 44 from the position shown in Fig. 4tothat showninF 5.' Sufficient rotation is impartedmanually to the pinion26 to cause it to move from an abutting relation to a gear At theinstant the gear meshing relation is accomplished the spring 66 will bereleased in orderto assist the pedal 51 in moving the pinion-26 intomesh with the gear 27 Before the, motor switch will have been closed bythe lever 44 enacting with the switch plunger 22, the pinion 26 willhave been moved a substantial distance into mesh with the gear 27. Theclosing of the switch will cause the motor/to turn the shaft 25 in thedirection vof the arrow 75 and will move the pinion endwise against thestop ring 30 so that'the pinion will be fully meshed with the gear asshown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the clutch teeth 62 are free ofthe clutch teeth gear 27. i

inname 61during thee'ngin'e cranking operationand thatthenger71-providedf bythe collapsible pinion 26 Will be automatically fdemeshedfrom the engine gear 27 due to the reversal of end thrust produced bythespline's upon the 'pinion When the engine r'otates the pinion.

astertha-n it can be rotated by the starting motor. As the pinionisWhirled rapidlyout of mesh With the engine gearthe disk 63 will engagethe linger 7l to move it forcibly from' the position shovvn in Fig. 6 tothat shown in Figu. In order to maintain the clutch teeth 61 outoffengagement With the .clutch teeth-62 While the motor` shaft is stillrotatl ing, the Vcollapsiblelink` is maintained automatically in theposition yshovvn in Fig. 7 byV a compression spring 80 Which has beenlocated as shown in Fig. `7 so thatitfexertsa yforce tending to rotatethelink in a counter clock- Wise direction about its pivot stud 69. Thespring 8O surrounds an arm 8l'pivotally connected With the link member64by a .pin 82 and the upper end 'of the arm 8l is xslidably connectedvWith, a bushing 83 carried by the hub of the lever 44. The u peren'd ofthe spring bears against a Was er '84 bearing against the lower end ofthe bushing 83, and the lower end ofthe spring bears against the washer85 bearing against a shoulder 86 provided by the link 81. Normally theline of action ofthe spring 80 is located'to the right of the axis ofthe pivot 'stud169 as. shown in Figs; 1,4, 5, and`6; but when'thepinionfis automatically demeshed from'A the 'gearg the spring 80' islocated so'that its line ofaction is located to the left of the stud`69as shown in Fig; 7. When the :pedal 51 is releasedthe spring 50 willreturn the lever 44 to norfmal position and the spring 80jwill bereconditioned for biasing the link in a clockwise direction and fortending to resist rotation of the engagement-effecting member 60.

l The pinion 26 is hindered. vfrom ac'ciden f.

tally movinginto mesh with the gear 27 by reason of the `fact that thelpinion normally is supported by ,a splinedportion 25a, of lesser outsidediameter than the splinedportion 25?) Which receives the .pinion Whileit is cranking the engine.; Theportions 25a and 255 are separated byconical, ,interrupted shoulderl portions 250 which provide sufficientobstruction to hinder -movementof the pinion accidentally intocontactwith the engine gear v While the 'engine isrunning.

n Win be noted that motion is transmitted through a yielding spring 66to theengagenient-effecting member 60 in order that the pinion Will beyielding'ly pressed against theV engine gear While attem ating to rotateit into meshing registration t ereWith. This fea-r ture is importantespecially in case of a cony dition Avvherethe teeth of the pinioninterlock with the abutting teeth of the gear so thatit nected with `anenginejto be started.;

' move slight amount to the left relative to rt'he'gea-r in 'ord-er thatthey interlockingcondition. may bereli'eved and that the pinionfmaycontinueto-rotate. l i: f Y n y i/Vhile the form of"embodimentofthepresT entfinvention as herein disclosed, constitutes avpreferred form, itisto; bef-.understood that otheriorms might beadopted,1all/coming within the scop'efo-tthe claimsy which follow.'What-is claimed as follovvs: y l.. :An engine v starterv y`drive4comprising a rotatable driving member :axially movable intoenga-gementwith a rotatable'part conand manually operabley meansgformoving the driving member axially and for-` turningit when lnecessary toeEectits. engagement .With the engine part', said meansincludingadeviceforlenggingsaid drivingmember to axially 290 move andturn the same,apart movable longi# tu'dinally VWith respect to the axis ofthe driv-Ling member, a springfor,transmitting motion fom the part to-thef-deviceinay direction oblique to and eccentric to the y,axisV ofthe drilv.

kfor movlngy said part'.` A

i 2. An engine starterdriveicomprising a rotatableH drivingmember.axiallyl movable intoenga-gement with aV rotatable' partconnected with an 'engine to be started an axially and rotatably movabledevice v:"lor.- effecting.. engagement ofthe driving member-,With the`engine part; means .for transmitting rotary v'movement from theqdeviceto the; driving member, and manually operablemeans/for exerting forceupon the;engagement-effecting device in ardirection lobliqueandeccentric to its-line ofaxial movement in `order to tend tol axiallymoveland to rotate 'the engagement 1;10 effecting device, said-[meansincludinga part movable: longitudinally with respect ytothe a'Xis of thedrivinginember, aspringgli'or transmittingfmot-ion from the part tothedevice in adirectionobliqueto andeccentricto `i the axis ofthe deviceandmanuallypprable `move and turn the same, an actuator lmovable f valong ytheqaxis of the :driving member, anda yielding-link connecting`thefactuator and w .device and',extending'obliquetoandeccentric Y Y* tothe axis of the driving member, an actuator anda link including a springforce transmitting member variable in lengthl according to the amountofforce transmitted `by it for applyinga force from the actuator uponthe driving member oblique andeccentric to its axis, the variation inlength of the link cagesing the angle between the direction of :forceapplication and the axis of the driving member to increase in responsekto continuing the movement of theactuator after the driving membermeets with obstruction by the engine part before connecting therewith.

4. An engine starter drive according to claim 3 in which the variablelink comprises two telescopically-engageable, tubular members, and inwhich the compression spring is enclosed by the tubularmembers and tendsto maintain 4said members extended.

5. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable driving member'axially movable into engagement with a rotatable part connected with anengine to be started; and manually operable means for moving theVdriving member axially and for turning it when necessary to efect'itsengagement with the engine part, said means including an actuator, anengagement-'e'ecting member movable axially and rotatively forconnecting said driving member with the engine part, and a linkconnected With the actuator and engagement-effecting member and. movablealong the axis thereof and eccentric and oblique thereto, saidl linkincluding a spring force transmitting member varying in length accordingto the force transmitted by it in order to cause an increase inthe anglebetween the directionl of force application through thevlink and theaxis of the engagement-effecting member in response to continuing themovement ofthe actuator after the driving member meets With obstructionby the engine part before connecting therewith. A l

6. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable driving member axiallymovable into engagementwith a rotatablefpart connected with an engine tobe started; andimanually operable meansV for movingthe driving memberaxially and for turning it when necessary to effect its engagement withvthe engine part, saidv means including anv actuator, anyengagement-eflecting memberr movable axially and rotatively and coaxialwith the driving member, axially-engageable, normally-disengaged clutchmembers provided respectively by the engagement-effecting memberanddriving member, and a link connected with the actuatorand'engagement-effecting member and movable along the axis thereof andeccentric and oblique thereto, said link including a spring forcetransmitting member varying in length according'to lthe forcetransmitted by it in order tol cause an` increase in the .angle betweenthe directionv of `force application'through the link Lees/e and the faxis of the engagement-effecting member in response to continuing themovement of the actuatorA after the driving member meets Withobstruction by the engine part before connecting therewith.

7. VVAn engine starter drive according to claim 6 in which the actuatoroperates a pivot pin along'v theaxis of the engagement-effecting memberand in which the variable link .connects the pin with vtheengagementeffecting member at a point eccentric to its axis. 4

8. An lengine starter drive according to claim 6 in 'which the actuatoroperates a pivot pin along the axis ,of the engagementeffecting memberand in which the variable link comprises two tubular telescopically,engageable members and a compression spring enclosed thereby, one memberbeing connected with the pin and the other with the engagement-effectingmember at` a point eccentric to its axis.

9. An engine starter drive comprising a drive shaft,` a pinion connectedwith the shaft and movable axially therealong into engagementwith a gearconnected with the engine to be started, and manually operable means formoving the pinion axially and for turning it when necessary to mesh itwith the engine gear, said means including an actuator movable along theaxis of the pinion but spaced therefronniand mechanism for transmittingmotion to the pinion oblique and eccentric to the axis of the pinionwhereby to provide force-components tending, respectively, axially androtatively, to move the pinion, said mechanism including a device forengaging the pinion to axially move and turn the same, and a yieldingmotion transmitting member connecting the actuator and device andextending oblique to and eccentric to the axis 'of the pinion.

l0. An engine starter drive comprising a drive shaft, a pinion connectedwith the shaft and movable axially therealong into engagement with agear connected with the engine to be started, a rotatable clutch membermovable along the shaft and axially engageable with a companion clutchmember provided by the pinion; and manually operable means for movingthe lclutch member axially in order to move the piniontoward thev gearand for rotating the clutch in Aorder to rotate the pinion to effectregistration, said means including an actuator movable along the axis ofthe clutch but spaced therefrom and mechanism for transmittinfr motionoblique and eccentric to the axis of the clutch member whereby toprovide force-components tending, respectively, axially and rotatively.to move the pinion, said mechanism including a spring motiontransmitting member whereby the 'rotatively-movement force-componentwill increase relative to theother component 1 able along the shaft andaxially engageable.

if movement of the actuator iscontinued after the pinion is obstructedby the gear.

11. Anengine starter drive comprising a drive shaft, a pinion connectedwith the shaft and movable axially therealong into engagement: withagear connected with the engine to be started; a rotatable clutch membermovwith a companionclutch member provided by the pinion; and manuallyoperable means for moving the clutch member axially in order to move thepinion toward the gear and for rotating the clutch in order to rotatethev pinion tov eect registration, said means including a pivot pinmovable along the'shaft and a link extending oblique and eccentric ofthe driving member in order to m'ove it axially and to rotate it whennecessary to f eii'ectl its driving engagement with the engine part., iy p Y -In testimony whereof I hereto aii'ix my signature,

y wr-Lronn TEEsTER. 1 3

fao

to the clutch member and -connecting the pivot pin witha part of theclutch eccentric thereto, said link including a spring forcetransmitting member varying in length according to the vforcetransmitted through it n whereby the angle between the link andl axis ofthe clutch will increase if vmovement of 1 the pivot pin continuesafterl the pinion is obstructed by the gear.

12. An engine starter a compression spring enclosed by two tubular,telescopically-engageable members, one

connected with the pinv and the other .with the clutch.

V13. An engine rotatable driving member axially movable into engagementwith aV rotatable part connected with an engineto bestarted; andmanually operable means including a spring mov tion transmitting member`for applying a and including a driving member and provisions wherebythe driving member will be automatically demeshed from the engine partwhen the engine starts; and manually operable means includinga'spring'motion transmitting member for moving the driving memberagainst the engine part withyielding pressure and for turning thedriving member y drive according yto claim 11 inwhich the variable linkcomprises starterl drive comprising a i in case it collides with the.engine part before being connected therewith( 15. Engine startingapparatus comprising a motor, means` for connecting the motor withy arotatable part of the engine tol be started automatically demeshedfrom'the engine part f and including aA driving member andprovisionswhereby the driving Vmember will be whcn'the engine'starts; and manuallyoper-` able means 'including a spring motion trans v Y mitting memberfor applying la'liorce yieldingly and oblique and eccentric to lthe axis'i

